Closing the Bike Lane Gaps
As you can see from this map Fort Greene and Downtown Brooklyn have had their share of pedestrians and bicyclists getting hit by cars. The area has made a lot of progress in the bike land department in recent years, but there are still plenty of awkward (and dangerous) gaps that need to be filled…
As you can see from this map Fort Greene and Downtown Brooklyn have had their share of pedestrians and bicyclists getting hit by cars. The area has made a lot of progress in the bike land department in recent years, but there are still plenty of awkward (and dangerous) gaps that need to be filled in. To address the issue, Mike Epstein recently made a presentation to Community Board 2 in which he made some specific suggestions on the lane creation front. There are bunch included in the presentation (including problems crossing the major thoroughfares of Flatbush and Atlantic) which can be viewed here, but one in particular that resonated with us was the gap in the eastbound route where the Lafayette bike path ends at Fulton and the next eastbound path doesn’t start again until Willoughby and Washington Park. Epstein suggests extending the Lafayette route to Carlton and then providing a northbound lane on Carlton to Willoughby. (Image on the jump.)
cmu, I know you’re not a jerk, I’ve met you.
As I said, cyclists are the only ones who never admit to gaming the rules in their favor. They are upright, always attentive paladins who are the only correct observers and interpreters of New York traffic interaction whilst simulataneously doing it in a green and recyclable way.
Man, that was to write. I’m a good writer.
I think CMU’s 2:24 post is a perfect example of someone justifying their acting as an irresponsible, oblivious jerk–as much so as drivers who run red lights (because they’re “good drivers” who are in a hurry. The major difference is that he/she is MOSTLY endangering himself, but still….
But jester, I DON’t admit to ‘being a jerk’ because I am not one. Riding the opposite way, for example, is no different than jaywalking (do you not do that?), it’s perfectly safe given the conditions on our residential streets. It’s not as if I were riding against traffic on the FDR.
I cycle VERY slowly; if I’m, say going the wrong way and I see a cyclist going the right way, I slow or even stop since he has the right of way (or a car, too). If I cross on a red light, it’s after coming to an almost complete stop and checking to see there’s no cross traffic (or peds). In fact, in some areas, cyclists are ALLOWED to treat a ref light as a stop sign.
So personally, I don’t have anything to apologize for.
next time, YELL at that assh&&le cyclist!
cmu, my point in adding that is that I’m not perfect either. While we’re sharing mea culpas, let me point out for the second time that still no cyclists really admit to being jerks. Just, “everyone is equally bad” so basically “throw up your hands, who can figure all these disparate factions.”
Besides, being too in shock over nearly being struck down, I never can collect myself to yell a nasty word. Posting on a blog thread is much more effective and dare I say fun.
Now to email my avid cyclist colleague about that wine date…
squaredrive – Thank you. Perfect post.
Yeah, as someone who has driven, walked, biked, and scootered in the city – I can pretty much confirm that all groups are equally asshole-ish in their behavior. The debate over who is worse is like debating whether you’d rather freeze or burn to death.
Better separation and enforcement is essential for all groups but at the end of the day, those who can do the most damage MUST bear the most responsibility for safety.
> …Snarky. What was your point?
Actually Bklnite summed it up nicely right after my post:
“Anyone look at the proposal before people started flaming about asshat cyclists?”
OTIS>The only really effective solution, and likely least likely is to create bike lines like on the 8th and 9th ave corridor above 14th street in Manhattan.
No, the only effective solution is to get *more people biking and sharing the roads* with vehicles. Bike lanes are but an interim and inefficient solution to the problem of aggressive (and, apparently, blind) drivers, and, in addition, give a false sense of security to cyclists.
jester>Cyclist coming down the bike lane, I never thought to check.
Even with a *bike lane* in place you don’t bother to look? No wonder people have close shaves with cyclists!
here comes CMU with his/her perfect awareness theory…
I shudder to think what you actually are not seeing based on your clueless “I can see everything” assertion. I’m sure you’re very impressed with yourself, but that sort of self-approval is a sedative.
One day someone is going to get a nasty shock – either you or your victim.